'Fancy not thinking your worthy brother's important publications the
most satisfactory treasures that any box could contain! The author's
feelings are seriously injured! What are Melanesian shells to
Melanesian statistics, and Lifu spears to a dissertation on the
treatment of Lifu diseases? Great is the ingratitude of the houses
of Feniton and Dawlish!

'Well, it must have been rather a "sell," as at Eton it is called, to
have seen the long-desired and highly-paid-for box disgorge nought
but Melanesian reports! all thanks to Mrs. Martin, who packed it
after I was off to the Islands.

'I cannot send you anything yet, but I will bear in mind the fact
that reports by themselves are not considered satisfactory. Does
anybody read them, after all? for they really cost me some days'
trouble, which I can't find time for again. This year's report (for
I suppose there must be one) is not begun, and I don't know what to
put in it. I have but little news beyond what I have written once
for all to Father.

'The decisive letter from the Bishop of New Zealand to the Duke of
Newcastle is in the Governor's hands, and all discussion of the
question is at an end. May God bring out of it all that may conduce
to His glory; but how I dread what is to come, you, who remember my
leaving home first for my deacon's ordination, can well imagine.

'It is true I have seen this coming for a year or two, and have seen
no way of preventing its coming upon me--no one else has come out;
the Bishop feels he cannot work his present diocese and Melanesia: he